Tag Archives: kickstarter

So… not to spoil the show for those who haven’t watched yet, interesting things happen to Hodor in Game of Thrones. It involves several things, among them being him holding a door in a very important scene. So it stands to reason that you’d see a Hodor door stopper skyrocket in popularity on Kickstarter: a project that started out seeking a modest $5,000 is up to $84,000 as of this writing. It’s 6 inches tall and 3D printed out of, well, plastic. Apparently making this out of metal would raise the costs “to over $500 per unit”. We question the company’s ability to accurately gauge the cost of metal door stoppers, but it doesn’t matter anyway, since it’s a freaking door stopper and who really needs it being made out of metal. If you want your own “Hodoor” Hold the Door Doorstop, you’ll need to pledge $37 or more.

Baby wipes are great, and not just for babies. I know enough girls who carry them around everywhere because they think their skin is as soft as a baby’s bum, and deserves the same kind of treatment. Ok, fair enough, but for those of us who need a good wipedown and aren’t so fussy about hypoallergenic this, or no-scent that, there’s Life Wipes. Their claim to fame isn’t that they’re not super soft, because they probably are. No, it’s that they’re super big. One wipe measures 1′ X 2′! That’s not a wet towelette, it’s straight up a wet towel. So when do you need it? How about when you go camping, get all muddy and dirty and shit, but what… you’re gonna shower? Soak in a cold stream? Didn’t think so. You’re gonna wipe yourself down with these and call it a day. It’s great!

A 10-pack will set you back $25, which seems like a lot until you remember these aren’t freaking baby wipes. These are Aloe Vera soaked, “all-natural spunlace biodegradable cotton”, Vitamin E totin’, adult-wipes for when you don’t wanna wash properly but don’t wanna look all dirty. There’s a place in the market for them, for sure.

Did you know that a lot of fancy steak houses cook their meats by broiling them? Yeah, it’s not just by dropping a good cut on a hot grill that you can cook up a steak; given the right temperatures, infrared radiation will get there faster, and possibly better. Otto’s Over-Fired Broiler uses two separately adjustable infrared gas units that reach their 970?C/1700?F operating temperature within 3 minutes. You then just have to place your steaks inside and broil them one minute per side to create a delicious crust that locks the juices in, while the interior remains moist and tender. The size of the grid accommodates even the largest slabs, ensuring even Texas-sized portions get cooked to perfection. It’ll cost you €590 or about $665USD to own, and if you live stateside, you’ll have to wait until October 2016 to get it.

There are times where you’re going to want to go outdoors. We know, it’s weird, but it happens. In those occasions, especially when you’re off the beaten path, you might want to consider putting your delicate electronics in a safer place. The RokPak is a waterproof container that keeps your phone safe, dry, and protected from bumps and scrapes all the while charging it thanks to its 12,000 mAh battery and solar panel. There are two USB outputs, as well as a net to keep your other items away from your phone, like your keys and a few cards.

The RokPak consists first and foremost of a tough waterproof case measuring 9.6 x 5 x 2.8 inches (246 x 128 x 70 millimeters). The case is lined with silicone, which makes a nice soft home for your delicate electronics; the makers told Gizmag that the RokPak can even take a fall from four feet (1.2 m) against a hard surface and still keep things safe. There’s a also a silicone net on one side that holds items in place. The case also floats and insulates against extreme heat (temps up to 176°F/80°C) and extreme cold (-4°F/-20°C).

Additional features include an LED flashlight, as well as an emergency beacon that will flash for up to 200 hours if the case falls in the water, making it easier to find.

You’ll have to pony up a hefty chunk of change to get your own: “you can get the RokPak for the early bird price of US$159. After those are gone, the price climbs to $169, then $179, which represents $50 off the eventual retail price of a whopping $229.”

There may be times when you really need to light the path in front of you. For those times, we’d like to recommend the Repulsor. Clocking in at 7,911 Lumens, it’s allegedly the brightest of any production flashlights of similar size. It’s brighter than a car’s headlights, even. But to call it a flashlight is a bit of a stretch. It’s a 2.8lbs contraption with two bulbs, which is worn around the waist or firmly strapped to something like a bike. A 1 hour charge gives it between 90 minutes and 115 minutes of runtime, depending on the capacity you select. The 60 degree beam angle means there’s really not much in front of you that won’t get lit, and with a beam throw of over 2,300 feet, you’ll be able to light up things you won’t even be able to make out. It’ll cost you a $175 pledge to order your own, as part of a Kickstarter project that hasn’t launched yet.

Modularity is in, in the gadget world. The idea is that you can customize your device with hardware add-ons, so that it does more of what you want, and less of what you don’t care about. The power strip just got the treatment with the YOUMO. It lets you connect up to 7 different modules, that range in function from wireless charging, to multi-USB, to LED light. Simply plug the base cord into your wall socket, and configure the rest of the strip to your liking. The company is even planning to develop more modules with expanded functionality like WiFi Repeater, and Wireless Speaker. Prices start at €39 (around $42USD) for the base cord plus 2 modules of your choice, then it’s about a €10 increase for every additional module. It’s a Kickstarter campaign that’s now fully funded, with shipping expected in February 2017, almost a full year away.

Look, if there’s butter on it, it’s better. This is a fact of life. But it’s also a fact that butter will clog your arteries, and fatten your waistline if eaten in excess. With the Biem Butter Sprayer you can add the flavour without pouring on the calories. It takes a hard stick of butter, and lets you spray it on your foods. Sensors detect when you’ve picked the device up, which fires up the heating element to 95F, instantly melting the dairy goodness. A gentle air pump then sprays out the liquid onto whatever it is you want to enhance. You can use any butter you normally use, and the thing doesn’t melt the entire stick, just the part you need to get some spraying action on. What comes out is cool to the touch, and there are no chemical propellants used at all. It’s a $99 pledge to get your own, with delivery in September if the Kickstarter fully funds.

As fun as it looks on YouTube, carrying your pet on your motorcycle can be hazardous. That’s why we welcome the carrier Pet on Wheels (POW). It’s a top-case designed specifically for carrying small-sized pets securely and legally on a motorcycle, scooter or bicycle. Made from injection-moulded plastic, it will easily fit pets up to 10 kg (22 lb). There are two ventilation holes, and a little cushion on the inside for your quasi-family member. POW can be installed facing forwards or backwards, and a special hook on the inside lets you tie a leash to prevent your best friend from getting too much adventure and jumping out. Currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, a €99 (about US$110) pledge will get you one, with delivery in April.

Travellers who live in smaller apartments will appreciate Néit, the “World’s First Smart Collapsible Hard Case Luggage.” When open, it’s a standard sized bag with a ton of modern, high-tech features you’d actually want in a normal bag, like GPS tracking, and YKK Aquaseal waterproof zippers. But the nice thing about Néit is that when you’re done using it, it collapses to about 30% of its initial size. It takes about 10 seconds to go from one mode to the other, and despite its transforming mechanism, the aircraft grade aluminum structure provides enough strength to withstand travel in cramped airplane cargo holds. The carabiner style handle even allows you to hang it easily, alongside your clothes in a dresser, and it won’t take much space since it’s about 3 inches wide when collapsed. Right now it’s a £150 (about $217USD) pledge for the carry-on, and £190 ($275USD) for the check-in sized bag.

OhGizmo! is a frequently updated blog that focuses on covering items that will appeal to a very specific and often very passionate audience: the geek. Aside from the fare of innovative consumer electronic products, the reader can expect to find news about geek culture, absurd inventions, awe inspiring technology, and an ever growing assortment of articles that we like to think fit within our view of what we’re calling the Geek Lifestyle.